It has been nearly a year since the last device to bear the Kindle name was announced, and in a market where every company seems to be refreshing its product line at least once a year, we already knew that it is about time for Amazon to unveil something new.

Now, though, there are even more signs that the online retail giant is ready to take the next step in its ever-growing presence as a consumer electronics manufacturer. For example, the Kindle Touch, the Kindle Touch 3G, and the Kindle Keyboard are all now completely out-of-stock on Amazon.com. That includes the standard versions as well as the “Special Offers” versions.

Customers who want a Kindle will have to buy a standard Kindle, the 3G version of the Kindle Keyboard model or the prohibitively expensive Kindle DX. While those options are still enough for anyone who wants an ereader, it is clear that Amazon is turning its focus away from what it currently sells, which can only mean it’s looking ahead to something else.

There is no doubt that Amazon will launch a new version of its Kindle Fire tablet soon. It owned the $200 7-inch tablet market until Google launches the Nexus 7, and now it needs to fight to stay competitive. Plus, there are rumors that the company will launch its own Kindle-branded smartphone.

The real question, though, is where this leaves the actual ereader segment of the Kindle family. The fact that the newest Kindle, the Kindle Touch, is out-of-stock suggests very distinctly that Amazon wants to pump a new and exciting ereader into the market. Next month is already expected to be chock full of new product announcements, so don’t be surprised to see Amazon playing right alongside Apple, Samsung, Nokia, and others.